Pulley-block.



No. 806,837. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

J. RATZER.

PULLEY BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1905.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

In ventor WW by My No. 806,837. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. J; RATZER.

PULLEY BLOCK.

APPLICATION nun JULY 21.1005.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attest: I Inventor: Y W 694% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed July 27, 1905. Serial No. 271,412.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RATZER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulley- Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in pulley-blocks; and it consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a novel construction of pulley-block possessing manually-controllable brake mechanism for engaging the rope and enabling the weight upon the latter to be controlled in its descent, whereby the weight may be caused to descend as slowly or as rapidly-as may be desired.

The pulley-block of my invention comprises a frame having one or more Wheels over which the rope passes, a brake adapted to hold the rope and wheels stationary, and a brake for engaging the rope at a suitable distance from the wheels with such degree of pressure as an operator may desire shall be exerted against the same for controlling the movement of the rope upon said wheel or wheels. For convenience I designate the brake which clamps the rope against the wheel as the wheel-brake and the brake -which directly engages and clamps the rope as the rope-brake, and in the preferred construction the wheel-brake will be moved out of operative position by the act of moving the rope-brake to clamp the rope, the wheel-brake and rope-brake having co-engaging arms whereby the movement of the one affects the other, so that there is an alternating or reverse action of the respective brakes, the wheel-brake moving into operation as the rope-brakes withdraw from operation.

The invention will be fully understood from the description hereinafter presented, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in w 'ch- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pulleyblock constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. '4 is a horizontal section of same on the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of same, partly broken away and illustrating a slightly-modified form or arrangement of the block.

In the drawings, 10 10 designate corresponding side plates of appropriate outline strengthened at their outer faces by vertical bars 11, through which and said plates pass bolts 12 and 13, the latter receiving the usual hook 9 and the bolt 12 affording a shaft for the pulley-wheels 14, all of which features are of ordinary construction. Intermediate the pulley-wheels 14 is provided a separating-plate 15, which extends from the lower end of the pulley-block to a suitable point above the wheels 14.

Above the wheels 14 is pivotally mounted, between the sides 10 upon a bolt 16, the wheel-brake 17, Fig. 3, comprising two brake members or shoes 18 and a lever or handle 19, the whole being in one integral casting and the shoes 18 being disposed directly over the wheels 14 and having concave corrugated surfaces, as shown in Fig. 2, to bind against the rope 49 and firmly press the latter against the wheels 14; The lever 19 of the ropebrake extends outwardly beyond the frame of the block, and saidlever, preferably within the outline of said frame, is connected with a spring 20, which acts to bind the shoes 18 against the r0 e 49, whereby initially the shoes 18 are enab ed to bind the rope 19 and wheels 14 stationary, and said rope is enabled to sustain any weight which may be placed u on it. The shoes 18 are provided with the ever 19 for enabling the operator to release the said shoes from the rope 49 in order that a weight suspended on the said rope may descend. An important part of my invention pertains to the means hereinafter described for controlling the travel of the rope 49 when the shoes 18 are released from the latter, whereby the weight may descend as slowly or rapidly as the operator may desire, the means I provide placing the rope 49 under the absolute control of the operator.

At the lower opposite edges of the pulleyblock frame I provide rope-clamps comprising the stationary members 21 and movable members 22, said members 21 being in the form of metal blocks c'oncaved at their inner edges, as shown in Fig. 4, and said members 22 being in the form of metal blocks concaved on their outer edges, and said members 21 22 receiving between their concave edges the ro e 49, as shown. The members 22 are mova 1e toward and from the members 21, so that the stretches of the rope 49 may be clamped more or less tightly by the pressure exerted against them by the members 22 pressing in a direction toward and clamping the rope against the members 21. The members 21, 22 constitute rope-brakes, since by theirclamping action directly against the rope at points removed from the pulleywheels the travel of the ro e may be placed under the absolute control of the operator. The stationary clamping or brake members 21 are secured between the side plates 10 by the means of bolts 23, and the members 22 are supported by means of pins 24, carried by them and projecting through corresponding horizontal slots 25, provided in one plate 10 and the intermediate plate 15, Fig. 4, said slots permitting the clamping members 22 to be moved outwardly toward and inwardly from the clamping members 21. The clamping members 22 are illustrated in their inner initial position, in which position said members exert no special influence on the rope 49. The means for eifecting the outward movement of the clamping members 22 against the rope 49 comprises a double eccentric or cam 26, disposed between the facing curved arms 27, formed on the clamping members 22. The eccentric 26 is secured on a pin 28, which projects through and has its bearing in the side frames 10, and the said pin 28 has secured on it the lower end of a lever-arm 29, which rojects upwardly between and be yond tl ie sides 10, as shown in Fig. 1, andcarries a pin 30, which has a bearing against the upper edge of'the lever-arm 19, the latter preferably bein recessed to form a seat for said pin. The ever-arm 29 is shown in its initial position with the double eccentric or cam 26 standing vertically and exerting no pressure against the clam ing members 22, and said lever 29 is norma y held in this initial position by means of the coiled spring 81.

In the condition of the parts of the pulleyblock shown the brake 17 is against the rope 49, and the rope-brakes (represented by the clamping members 21 22) are free of said rope. A weight hung upon the rope 49 would in the condition of the parts shown be prevented from descending, since the brake-shoes 18 would prevent the travel of the rope. When it is desired, therefore, that the rope 49 may travel and the weight descend, the operator will by a suitable cord or other connection to the link 32 pull outwardly and downwardly on the upper end of the lever-arm 29, which action will cause the pin to depress the le ver 19 and free the wheel brake-shoes 18 from the rope 49 and also effect a rotary movement of the double eccentric or cam 26, the latter having its longer axis turned toward a horizontal position between the arms 27 of the clamping members 22, with the result that the members 22 will press the rope 49 against the clamping members 21 with more or less force in accordance with the amount of movement imparted to the eccentric or cam 26 by the operator through the lever-arm 29. The operator thus by actuating the leverarm 29 releases the brake-shoes 18 and applies the rope-brakes, the latter acting With more or less force, as may be de sired, to control the descent of the weight or the travel of the rope in accordance with the force applied to move the leverarm 29. Upon a release of the force applied to the arm 29 by the operator the spring 31 will restore said arm and the eccentric or cam 26 to their initial position, leaving the clamping members 22 relieved of pressure, and the spring 20 will return the lever-arm 19 to its initial position and throw the brake-shoes 18 against the rope 49, thus locking the latter and the wheels 14 stationary. The brake-shoes 18 exert a positive force against the rope 49 sufficient to hold the latter and the wheels 14 stationary, while the clamping members 22 operate with a variable force against the rope 49 and when the brake-shoes 18 are released control the travel of the rope over the wheels 14. The coaction of the lever-arms 19 29 results in the brakes operating reversely, or, in

other words, the rope-brakes being released when the wheel-brake is applied and the said rope-brakes being applied. when the wheelbrake is released.

I illustrate in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 a pulleyblock having two pulley-wheels 14, which is a usual construction; but I do not limit the invention to the employment of any special number of pulley-wheels, since the invention is equally applicable to a pulley-block having only one pulley-wheel, which may be understood as represented in Fig. '5, in which instance the rope will extend to the ground or other suitable point and the weight to descend will be attached to the rope near its upper portion. In Fig. 5 I illustrate one of the rope-clamps as being on an inclined line, so that the descending reach of the rope may .be disposed outwardly to a greater distance from the other reach thereof, which would be a preferred construction if the pulley-block were to be used as a fire-escape, in which event the person descending from a window could take hold of or be secured to one reach of the rope and be caused to descend in the same manner that any weight placed upon the rope would be caused to descend-that is, by pulling upon the lever-arm 29 with a variable force suited to the weight to be handled. If the pulleyblock were to be used as a fire-escape, the cord or other connection from the link 82 should descend to the ground so that a fireman could operate the pulleyblock and control the descent of the person carried by the rope 19.

My invention pertains to the Wheel and rope brakes hereinbefore described, with coacting means for operating the same revers ely, the novel features of my invention residing more especially in the rope-brakes and means 'for operating the same.

, both of the rope-brakes, since, with less satisfactory results, but one of said brakes need be employed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pulley-block, a wheel-brake, a ropebrake for clamping the rope at a point independent of the wheel, means for manually applying the rope-brake to control the descent of the weight, and coacting means for releasing the wheel-brake when the ropebrake is applied; substantially as set forth.

2. In a, pulleyblock, a pivoted wheelbrake having a lever-arm, a rope-brake for clamping the rope at a point independent of the wheel and having a lever-arm, means for manually operating the last-mentioned leverarm to apply the rope-brake whereby to control the descent of the weight, and means carried by said lever-arm for engaging the wheelbrake lever-arm and releasing the wheelbrake when the rope-brake is applied; substantially as set forth.

3. In a pulley-block, a wheel-brake, a ropebrake independent of the wheel, springs for normally holding the Wheel-brake applied and the rope-brake released, and means for releasing the wheel-brake when the ropebrake is applied; substantially as set forth.

4. In a pulley block, a pivoted wheelbrake having a lever-arm, arope-brake independent of the wheel and having a lever-arm. springs for normally holding the wheel-brake applied and the rope brake released, and means connecting said lever-arms so that the movement of one may actuate the other; substantially as set forth.

5. In a pulley-block, a wheel-brake, a ropebrake independent of the wheel-brake comprising a pair of grooved clamping members between which the rope passes, an eccentric for moving one of said members to clamp the rope against the other member, a lever-arm connected with said eccentric for actuating the same, and means for releasing the wheelbrake when the rope-brake is to be used; substantially as set forth.

6. In a pulley-block, a rope-brake independent of the wheel and comprising clamping members to engage both reaches of the rope, an eccentric for actuatin the same to clamp the rope, a lever-arm or operating said eccentric, and a spring normally holding said eccentric in its inoperative position; substantially as set forth.

7. In a pulley-block, a rope-brake for engaging both reaches of the rope and comprising the pairs of grooved blocks between which the rope passes, the outer blocks being stationary and the inner movable, a double eccentric between said movable blocks for actuating the same, a lever-arn1 for operating said eccentric, and a spring normally holding said eccentric in its inoperative position; substantially as set forth.

8. In a pulley-block, a rope-brake for engaging both reaches of the rope and com-, prising the pairs of grooved blocks between which the rope passes, the outer blocks being stationary and the inner movable, a double eccentric between said movable blocks for actuating the same, a lever-arm for operating said eccentric, and a spring normally holding said eccentric in its inoperative position, combined with a wheel-brake, and'means for releasing the wheel-brake when the rop e-brake is to be used; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 26th day of July, A. D. 1905.

JOHN RATZER.

Witnesses:

OHAs. O. GILL, ARTHUR MARION. 

